Air brush



March 15; 1932.

A. F. JENKlNs 1,849,300

AIR BRUSH Filed Jan. s. 1927 s sheets-sheet anotan March 15, 1932. A, F, JENKINS 49,300

AIR BRUSH Fi1ed Jan` 8, 1927' 3 sheets-Sheet 2 -Zzf ,Z Inventor a a dummy:

March l5, 1932.

A. F. JENKINS AIR BRUSH Filed Jan. 8, 1927 www? 3 Sheets-Sheet vwentoz Patented Mar. 15,v 1932 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER F. JENKINS, F BALTTMORE, MARYLAND AIB BRUSH applicati@ med January s, 1927. serial No. 159,849.

This invention relates to air brushes, and more particularly to the type having a nozzle which directs supplemental jetsV of air against a central spray to flatten it, and pro- L duce a fan shaped spray which may be adjusted to either a vertical or horizontal plane, and adapted for applying paint or other coating material to surfaces of any character.

While in conjunction with the air brush as hereinafter described, the coating material is contained in a can, and is siphoned up to the spray nozzle, the invention is not limited tol this use, but within its scope it is also 15 equally adapted for use with a container suspended from a support, and having a tube conducting the coating material to the air brush, or for use with va container subject to air pressure which forces the coating material through a connecting tube for anydesired distance to the air brush.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved air brush having several novel features, and which will be cheap to manufacture, simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and convenient and rapid in operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds when read 1n connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the device for applying coatingandshowing indetail the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a cross section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and taken alongA the line 2-2 of that figure;

Figure 3 is an end view of the nozzle por tion ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a detail 'sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;,

Figure 5 is a view taken in substantially the same manner as Fig. 3, but with the eX- ternal portions of the nozzle removed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the spring-pressed pin 1 valves Figure 7 is an elevation of a. modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; y Y Y -Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view through the structure shown in Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a detail vertical cross section taken along the lines 9-9 of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows shown;

Figure 10 is an' end view ofthe nozzle` shown in Fig. 8 with the supplemental head removed;

Figure 11 is an internal view of lthe noz-` zle head;

Figure 12 is a' partial view showing a modilication of the body portion of Fig. 1, showing a flexible diaphragm to be used in place of the stalling box; and Figure 18 is a detail of the exible diaphragm.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1 comprises a body 1, a handle 2 and a paint supply conduit 3. The conduit communicates with a container 4 for the coating material and the handle 2 is'provided with an interior passage 5 communicating with a coupling 6 for receiving a hose,not shown, supplying compressed air from any suitable source. Centrally, the body portion 1 is formed as a barrel 7 containing the air passage 8 Which receives the air from the passage 5. The communication between the'passages 5 and 8 is controlled by the valve 9 actuated by the stem 10 and yieldingly held in position by the spring 11. In the embodiment shown, the valve is mounted in a bore 12 pro- A'vided in the handle 2, and the bushing 13 is threaded into a reduced portion of the bore and serves as a guide for the stem 10. A threaded plug 14: closes the end of the bore and allords an abutment for the spring 11. From the valve 9 the communication to the passage 8 by means of a short duct 15. At the front portion ot the barrel 7 the passage 8 terminates in two transverse branches 16 and 17, as shown in Fig. 2. Further passages 18 and 19 aiiord communication from the tra-nsverse branches to an annular air chamber 2O formed between the end of the body 'portion and the hollow interior of the nozzle head to be later described.

The paint conduit 3 may be extended as b 'y 'a short length of pi e 25 which, together wit the conduit 3, affor s a continuous passage 26 l ber 27. A needle valve 31 serves to cut off the communication from the chamber 30. The

needle valve is provided with a stem 32 which extends rearwardly through a collar portion 33, anda threaded plug 34, between which a stuffingl box for the valve stem is provided.

The packingbetween the collar 33 and the plug 34, may be compressed by means of the angular head 35 on the plug.

Instead of the stuiling box, the structure shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used. The

body. portion is extended beyond the collar 33.

as at 110 and provided with external threads adapted to receive an internally, threaded cap 111, centrally apertured as at 1;'12, to permit the valve stem 32 to pass therethrough. A flexible diaphragm 113, preferably corrugated, is secured by the cap 111 against the end of the .body 110. The valve stem passes through the central opening 114 of this diaphragm, and is threaded to receive the two small units 115 and 116, betweenF which the central portion of the diaphragm is secured. This diaphragm permits movement of the stem enough to open and close the valve 31, and still maintains a tight joint.

The valve stem terminates in a plunger or abutment 36, which is slidably mounted in the `bore 37 of a barrel 38, preferably located immediately above the barrel 7. A threaded plug 39 serves to close the end of the barrel and affords y, an abutment for a spring 40, which compresses against the plunger 36, and thereby tends t-o maintain the needle valve 31 seated against the inside of the conical meinber 28.

The paint spray device is provided with an operating trigger 41, which is pivoted to the body portion as at 42. rlhe bearing for the trigger is preferably formed by the joining of an upward extension 43 from the forward portion of the body, and an integral extension 44 extending upward from the barrel 37. These portions may be extended rearwardly and curved to form a hook 45, by means of which the entire device may be suspended from a support. The trigger Y41 is preferably bifurcated as at 46, providing two arms 47 which have a pivotal connection as at 42 on either side of the body portion. A slotted yoke 48 extends transversely of the device and terminates in rearwardly extending arms 49,

afford an operating lever 51 to serve as a thumb trigger.

The pressure exerted by the spring aga-inst the yoke 48 may be adjusted and fixed by means of adjusting nut 52 and lock nut 53 which are threaded on the rear portion of the valve stem a slight distance in front of the plunger 36. Also by pressing down on the lever 51, the forward portion of the yoke 48 will be raised, freeing the adjusting nuts 52 and 53 and allowing the spring 40 to retain the needle valve 31 permanently against its seat. It should be further noted that the plunger 10, operating the air valve for the compressed air supply, is located directly behind the operating trigger 41, and that with the parts in the position shown inFig. 1, and the trigger pulled until it contacts with the end of the plunger 10 by means of the yoke 48 engaging the adjusting nuts 52 and 53, the valve 31 will be pulled away from its seat a slight amount. Further pressure of the trigger will, of course, further open the needle valve and also, by pressing on the plunger 10, remove the valve 9 from its seat, admitting the compressed air into the air passages.

An external or supplemental nozzle head 56 is secured against the forward portion of lthe body 1 and bears against a shoulder 57 provided in the body portion. A collar 58 threaded on thc body portion as at 61, has an internal rim 59 which engages an external flange 6,0 on the supplemental head and serves to hold the supplemental head in place, and at the same time permits its relative r0- tation. The supplemental head is hollowed out to afford the chamber 20 previously described and is further provided with an internal coni/cal surface 62. On the outer surface of the supplemental head, the lugs 63 are provided. `These lugs have spherical recesses 64, which are provided with angularly directed passages 65 communicating with axial bores 66 opening into the chamber 20.

The compressed air in the passage 8 passes through the several passage 16, 17, 18 and 19 into the annular chamber 20, from which it passes through the conical space 68 between the internal nozzle and the surface 62, and thence through the central bore 69 to the atmosphere. The outwardly directed draft around the paint nozzle 31 when the paint valve is open creates a suction which is transmitted through the passages 29, 27 and 26 to the supply of coating materials in the container 4. The material is thereby drawn up to the paint nozzle, and projected forward in a circular stream of paint, which as soon as it contacts with the annular stream of air from the opening 69 is changed into a cir-A is more clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6. These figures also show the springressed pins which serve to hold the hea tight against its collar, to cut off the supply to the supplemental jets in one position, and to lock it in this position. As shown, the front ,end of ,the ybody portion 1 terminates in a l plane surface which forms one wall of the chamber 20. Substantially circular recesses 71 are formed in this face and receive the bushing 72 in which are slidably mounted the pins 73. Springs 7 4 bear against the bottom of the recesses and against the pins 7 3, urging them outward, so that the enlarged inner portions 75 of the pins bea-r against an internal shoulder 76 formed on the interior of the bushing. The two pins 7 3 "are disposed radially of the nozzle and are located in a position intermediate between horizontal and vertical axial planes, preferably in about the position shown in Fig. 5. The outer ends of the pins are rounded ofi' as at 77 and the inner end of the ypassages 66 are countersunk or rounded as at 78.

When the outer head is turned to the position in which the passages 66 are in either a vertical or horizontal position, the pins bear against the inner surface 79 of the nozzle in the manner shown in Fig. 1. In either of these positions, therefore, or any position other than the single position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the passages 66 are in no way obstructed by the ins 73, and a free communication is provi ed between the chamber 2O and the passages 65. But when the supplemental head is turned to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the pin 73 immediately engages the countersunk portion 78 and cuts on' the communication from the chamber 20 to the passage 66. Also,.as the pin enters the countcrsunk recess 78, it tends to lock the supplemental head against rotation. By the exertion of a slight pressure, however, tending to turn the supplemental head, the pins 73 will ride out of the countersunk recess and permit the head to be adjusted into any radial position.

The container 4 may be a metal can and provided with internally projecting pins -98 adapted to be engaged by an inclined flange 99 extending outwardly from an internal rim 100 of the cover 96. A gasket 101 is inserted in the recess 102 between the internal rim 100 and the outer rim 103, and when the cover is applied so that the pins 98 register with slots 1.04 in the ange 99, andy then twisted, the pins 98 will ride along the inclined face of the flange and force the rim 105 of the container against the gasket, compressing it to maintain a tight closure.

The cover is provided with a centrally bored boss 95. The interior paint pipe 25 is secured in the lower opening of the boss and the nipple 106 is Secured in the upper end. The nipple has a flange 107 at its upper end,

to the interior paint pipe 25, extends. well4 above the cover 96,-and is provided with an air vent 97 to break any vacuum produced by the withdrawal of the material. This vent, being positioned near the center of the cover,

and extending above it for a considerableV distance, permits the entire device to be tipped through a comparatively large angle, wit-hout any of the material spilling out of the vent. This facilitates the use of the device in corners and other irregular portions of the surface to be coated.

WVhen the apparatus is in use for applying coating material, a'supply of material will, of course, be provided in the container and a, source of compressed air connected to the coupling 6. As soon as the operating trigger 41 is pressed a slight degree, compressed air will` be forced out of the annular opening 69 i`n the manner hereinbefore described. A further pressure of the trigger will open the needle valve 31 and permit the coating material to be drawn through the central opening by the induced suction. The supplemental head will be adjusted to a horizontal position and the supplemental jets of air from the opening 65 will produce a vertical fan shaped spray, which is applied to the surface receiving the material by a horizontalniotion of the entire apparatus. Vhen the surface has been covered in this manner, the supplemental head will be rotated ninety degrees sob that the passages 66 lie in a vertical plane and the horizontal fan shaped spray is produced which may then be applied to the receiving surface by a horizontal movement of the apparatus as a whole. For a particular portion of an irregular surface, it is desirable to dispense with the fan shaped spray and apply the coating in a circular, substantially conical spray. When this is desired, the sup:

plemental head may be rotated to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and the springpressed pins immediately engage the countersunk recesses 78, cutting off the supplemental jets of air and permitting the central conical spray. lVhen the coating process is' completed, it is very desirable to clean all of the coating material out of' the apparatus to prevent its hardening or gummingthe interior passages. To accomplish this, the container 4 may be supplied with a cleaning fluid, and

with the supplemental head in the cut off position, the triggerl 41 may be operated to per mit the compressed air 'to be ejected from the annular opening 69, drawing the cleaning luid through all of the paint passages and effectually removing all undesirable remains of the coating material.

It is also sometimes desirable to eject the compressed air from the central opening of the nozzle without at the same time supplying any paint or coating material. This action would havea cleaning effect in case an over supply of coating material had caused a clogging around thefront portion of the nozzle, but it is also desirable for other purposes.

This is accomplished by merely exerting a shown in'Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, -the bodyportion 1 and the passages and operating means for supplying the compressed air to the annular chamber. 20, are identical with the structure hereinbefore described, and the modification affects only the nozzle head and the connections for the supplying of supplemental jets of air. The modified supplemental head is provided with four supplemental air passages and the head 56 is ordinarily in a fixed position with respect to the body 1, one pair of supplemental passages 65 lying in a vertical plane and the other pair lying in a horizontal plane. The coating material is supplied to the passage 26 in the same manner as in the form previously described,but the internal conical coating material nozzle 28 is extended rearwardly outside of the forward portion of the main body 1, and is rotatable within the bore 27. Furthermore, the head of the rotatable coating material nozzle is extended laterally to provide the two oppositely disposed lugs 81, each 'of which is proviled with a cylindrical recess 82 which slidably receives a valve 83. The outer nozzle head has an interior annular plane surface 84 surrounding the conical surface 85. Springs 86 located in the recess 82 bear against the bottom of the recess and against the inside of the valve member, and normally urge these valves against the surface 84. The valve stem 32 'is identical with that used Yin the previously described embodiment. but the bearing portion 33', the hollow nut 35 and the included stuffing box, are all rotatable'with the member 28. A compressible washer 87 is fitted over the external surface of the rotatable member, and the packing nut 88 and lock nut 89 are in threaded engagement with the external projection. A collar 90 is also threaded on the member 28 and isprovided-with an operating handle 91 by means of which the entire l member 28 carrying the valves 83 may be rot-ated. It should be noted that the lugs 81l are restrained by the conical seat 92 of the rotatable member, so as to be always maintained spaced some distance from the outer face of the body member 1, so that the supply of air from the passages 18 and 19 is not impeded even though the lugs in their partial rotation may happen to pass in front of either of these openings. Also the hollow rotatable member 28 is provided with a series of radially spaced apertures 93 which afford communication from the material passage 26 to the interior chamber 30.

In the operation of this modified form of the invention, the supplemental head does not have 'to be rotated and there are, therefore, no rotatable external parts, with the exception of the single handle 91. This eliminates the necessity of the operator grasping the exterior of the supplemental nozzle which is generally covered with wet paint, in order to turn the nozzle to its adjusted positions; and also permits a more rapid adjustment of the spray from the vertical to the horizontal effect.

. Vhen the handle 91 is in the position shown in Fig. 8, the lugs 81 will be in the corresponding position shown in Fig. 10. The valve members 83 in this position are located over the passages 66 and prevent the supplying of supplemental jets of air through the passages 65. The air from the chamber 20, however, may pass through the passages which are in a horizontal pla'iie and therefore produce a vertical fan shaped spray. Byl

rotating the handle 91 through an arc of ninety degrees, the supplemental passages 65 which lie in thehorizontal plane may be cut offpermitting the air from the chamber 2() to pass through the passages 66 which lie in a vertical plane, thereby effecting a horizontal fan shaped spray. When the handle 91 is in an intermediate position, the valves 83 merely engage the surface 84 intermediate the openings for the supplemental jets, which permits the air from. the chamber 2O to pass through. all four of the supplemental openings. Llhe two sets of supplemental jets in this position will substantially neutralize each other and result in an approximately circular spray. The operation of the yoke 48 is identical with that described iii connection with the preferred form of the invention.

While the invention has been described in its preferred and a modified form. it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment shown but includes all changes and modifications thereto which come within the scope of the appendedv claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for applying coating comprising in.combination,a body, coating passages and air passages in said body, a rotatable nozzle head having a flange, a collar having a shoulder engaging said flange for securing said head to said body and permitting rotation of the head, supplemental air passages in said head, and means for cutting oif the supply of air to said supplemental passages comprising spring pressed pins. i

2. A device for applying coating, comprising in combination, a body, coating passages and air passages in said body, a rotatable nozzle head secured to said body, supplemental air passages in said head, a cham ber between said body and said head in communication with said supplemental passages, and means mounted in said body and projecting into said chamber for cutting off the supply of air to said supplemental passages.

3. In a device for applying' coating, a body, a paint conduit, a compressed air conduit adapted to draw paint from said paint conduit and project it 1n a spray, a valve for said paint conduit having a stem, guiding means for supporting said stem and a flex-v ible diaphragm for sealing said-stem, Whereby sufficient movement is permitted to open and close the valve, and at the same time an air tight joint-is maintained.

4. In a device of the character described in combination, a body portion, a nozzle at one end thereof and an operating handle at the other, a paint passage to said nozzle in said body, a valve therefor having a non-rotatable stem extending rearwardly and terminating short of said handle, a trigger for operating said valve, a pivot therefor positioned above the body at its middle portion, a rotatably adjustable abutment on said valve stem, and a. yoke pivoted on said trigger extending toward said nozzle and adapted to detachably engage said abutment to operate said valve.

'5. A device for applying coating material comprising in combination, a body, coating material passages and air passages in said body, a rotatable nozzle, supplemental air passages in said nozzle, means carried by said body and projecting therefrom to register with the inlet of each of said supplemental passages when the nozzle occupies one position, to cut o`il` the supply of air thereto, rotation of the nozzle to any other position permitting the flow of supplemental air.

6. A device for applying coating material, comprising in combination, a body, coating material passages and air passages in said i body, a rotatable nozzle having supplemental air passages adapted to communicate with said air passasges, and non-rotatable means carried by said body in the path of said supplemental passages as they rotate with said nozzle and adapted to enter the inlets thereof to cut o the supplemental air when said passa es come into register with said non-y rotata lemeans.

7 A device for applying coating, comprising a body, a rotatable nozzle, coating niaterial passages and compressed air passages in said body adapted to supply material and air to said nozzle, supplemental air passages in said nozzle, a collar securing said head to said body and permitting its rotation, means supported by said body adapted to slidably engage the inner surface of said nozzle, said means being adapted to register with said supplemental passages and enter the inlets thereof to cut off the flow of air therethrough at one head. 8. In a device for applying coating, a body, a paint conduit, an air conduit for supsignature. 1

ALEXANDER F. JENKINS.

point only in the rotation of said nozzle 

